Why
film in
indonesia

Indonesia is the ultimate destination for any filming purpose. Whatever you need for producing your feature film, documentary, commercial, TVC, adventure, culinary, lifestyle TV show, or reality TV – Indonesia has it all! The world’s biggest archipelago, stretching from Singapore down to Australia, consists of more than seventeen thousand islands and combines everything THE BEST Asia can offer. 

Rich, diverse culture, fascinating history, bustling metropolises and traditional communities living on the outskirts of civilization, powerful nature, endemic wildlife, fantastic landscapes, active volcanoes, jungle, coral reefs, pristine beaches, unpopulated islands – the list of Indonesia’s highlights is long and diverse. 

With a population of almost 260 million, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country. It is home to over 300 hundred ethnic groups using more than 700 hundred languages and dialects, making it one of the most unique and fascinating parts of the planet. Indonesia has been a melting pot of cultures and religions for almost two thousand years, and it remains as such until now, what is represented by its national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” („unity in diversity”). 

Indonesia is one of those few places on Earth where the followers of almost all world’s religions have been living side by side in peace for generations. It is also probably the only place on the planet where modernity meets prehistory. While most Indonesians live in modern cities, use smartphones and the Internet, there are still remote places where indigenous tribes practice ritual cannibalism. Indonesia is a vast destination, and there are many stories to be told here. We know it inside-out, and we will help you finding your story and the perfect location to film it. 

how to get
filming permits
in Indonesia

FILMING PERMITS AND SPECIAL VISAS FOR THE CREW:

Applying for a filming permit in Indonesia is a complicated process, and it requires simultaneous action both on the applicant’s side and its Indonesian production support company. 

The applicant should take the following steps:

Apply for a journalist visa at the Indonesian Embassy in your country. NOTE: We recommend doing it at least 30 days before your planned date of departure to Indonesia (60 days in the case of a feature film production).

Provide to the Embassy of RI the following documents:

1. Copy of passports of all the crew members traveling to Indonesia;

2. Personal data of all the crew members involved in the project and their positions;

3. Synopsis of the project to be filmed;

4. Details of the company applying for a filming permit;

5. Details of the production support company which will be the applicant’s partner in Indonesia. NOTE: Having a local LICENSED production company as a partner is mandatory for all foreign companies planning to film in Indonesia. It’s impossible to obtain a journalist visa for any „freelance” filmmaker;

6. List of the locations which will be used for filming. NOTE: It is crucial to have this list prepared accurately. It’s better to have more sites on that list, even if some won’t be used for filming. Local authorities check that list very carefully. If any location is not listed, you might not be allowed to film there regardless of the Ministry of Culture’s general filming permit!

7. Complete list of the equipment used for filming in Indonesia together with its valuation in USD. It must be followed by the written and signed statement of the intention to re-export the equipment brought to Indonesia upon completion of the film production;

8. A detailed schedule of shooting;

Provide the copy of the documents listed above to Durian Production Company as your local partner and legal „sponsor” in Indonesia;

The Embassy will verify the provided documents and inform you how much time will be needed to approve and issue the visas. It usually takes between 7 to 14 working days (be aware of many national holidays in Indonesia!).

Once you have appointed Durian Production House as your local partner in Indonesia, the Embassy of RI in your country of residence will get in touch with us;

Once the journalist visa application is submitted and coordinated with the Embassy of RI in your country of residence, Durian Production House will contact the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture and apply for the filming permit on your behalf. NOTE: some regions (for example, West Papua) or events (for example, some religious events) can require additional permits for filming, which should be applied for in advance.

Note that Durian Production House will become your legal „sponsor” in Indonesia. That means that Durian Production House takes full legal responsibility for your crew’s activities during filming in Indonesia;

The process of approving the application for a filming permit can take up to 14 working days. Still, thanks to our excellent contacts in the Ministry of Education and Culture, we can arrange the permit even during one working day in exceptional cases.

You will collect the journalist visas from the Indonesian Embassy before departure to Indonesia.

As your sponsor and local partner in Indonesia, Durian Production House will help you deal with Indonesian customs and immigration upon arrival to Indonesia.

Weather Info

Due to its location close to the equator, Indonesia provides 12 hours of light throughout the year.
First light: 5.30 am
Sunrise: 6.00 am
Sunset: 6.15 pm
Last light: 6.45 pm

In western Indonesia (Sumatra to Maluccu and Alor), the dry season is from May to late October. The wet season starts in November and lasts until the end of April. In the eastern part of the country, the seasons are opposite. Note that rain occurs only a few hours a day during the wet season, mostly at night, and the conditions are still suitable for filming.
Due to climate change, the boundaries of the wet and dry seasons are variable.

For more detailed information on the weather in Indonesia, visit this site:

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